Aberdeen 2 Rangers 3: Walter Smith's men come from behind to snatch victory and maintain their 100 per cent record

Rangers manager Walter Smith enjoyed his first win at Pittodrie since returning to the Ibrox hot-seat three years ago with a spirited 3-2 victory over Aberdeen.

The Dons looked set to maintain their impressive home record over the Ibrox side when they raced into a two-goal lead thanks to first half strikes from Scott Vernon and Chris Maguire, who was sent off in the closing stages for a second booking.

In-form Miller, however, pulled a goal back from the spot after Vladimir Weiss had been brought down by Jerel Ifil to keep his side in the match after 34 minutes.

Three and easy: Nikica Jelavic rolls home Rangers' winner

The Scotland striker netted his 10th
goal of the season after 52 minutes when he was on hand to turn home Steven Davis' cut-back and the
comeback was complete when Steven
Naismith beat the offside trap to unselfishly set up Nikica Jelavic for an easy finish.

Rangers made six changes for their
trip to Pittodrie with Kyle Lafferty on the bench, despite scoring a hat-trick in the
Light Blues' 7-2 Co-operative
Insurance Cup midweek win over Dunfermline. Miller returned in his
place, while there were also
starts for Allan McGregor, David Weir, Sasa Papac, Lee McCulloch and Steven Whittaker.

Aberdeen, without captain Paul
Hartley who strained a hamstring in their League Cup victory over Raith Rovers, made two
changes. Defender Nikola Vujadinovic stepped in for Hartley, while striker Darren Mackie replaced
Mitchel Megginson.

Dons boss Mark McGhee had joked
before the game that he may have to start the match with six defenders in order to nullify a
Rangers team that had scored 11
times in their previous two matches. Instead, he opted for a four-man
defence with right-back Rory
McArdle pushed forward into midfield.

Battle: Vladimir Weiss holds off Aberdeen's Rory McArdle

The home side broke the deadlock
after 10 minutes when Vernon timed his run perfectly to latch onto Maguire's neat pass and slot the ball
past McGregor for his fifth goal
in four games.

Rangers increased the pressure as
they searched for an equaliser with Miller stinging the palms of Jamie Langfield, before an enticing
centre from Vladimir Weiss found
no takers.

Aberdeen were defending their lead
resolutely, although Steven Naismith was given a glimpse of goal after exchanging passes with Jelavic
but failed to find the target.

With 30 minutes gone the Dons doubled
their lead when Maguire reacted quickest to turn Mackie's low cross past McGregor.

Rangers had the chance to pull a goal
back within four minutes when Ifil brought Weiss down in the area, with Zander Diamond and
Naismith picking up bookings for
their parts in a melee which followed the decision.

The main man: Walter Smith

Miller held his nerve to net from the
spot and continue his record of scoring in every league game this season.

The striker turned creator in the
closing stages of the action-packed half to cross for Papac but the Bosnian's header was
well held by Langfield.

Rangers levelled within seven minutes
of the restart. Naismith released Davis, who threaded the ball across goal to give Miller the easiest of
finishes and his 10th league
goal of the season.